cytogenetic abnormalities can be detected in multiple myeloma by imaging flow cytometry.

Aims: Cytogenetic abnormalities involving the gene are seen in up to 55% of patients with multiple myeloma. Current testing is performed manually by fluorescence hybridisation (FISH) on purified plasma cells. We aimed to assess whether an automated imaging flow cytometric method that uses immunophenotypic cell identification, and does not require cell isolation, can identify abnormalities.

Time to match; when do homologous chromosomes become closer?

In most eukaryotes, pairing of homologous chromosomes is an essential feature of meiosis that ensures homologous recombination and segregation. However, when the pairing process begins, it is still under investigation. Contrasting data exists in Mus musculus, since both leptotene DSB-dependent and preleptotene DSB-independent mechanisms have been described.

Chromosomal positioning in spermatogenic cells is influenced by chromosomal factors associated with gene activity, bouquet formation and meiotic sex chromosome inactivation.

Chromosome territoriality is not random along the cell cycle and it is mainly governed by intrinsic chromosome factors and gene expression patterns. Conversely, very few studies have explored the factors that determine chromosome territoriality and its influencing factors during meiosis. In this study, we analysed chromosome positioning in murine spermatogenic cells using three-dimensionally fluorescence in situ hybridization-based methodology, which allows the analysis of the entire karyotype.

Isolation of subtelomeric sequences of porcine chromosomes for translocation screening reveals errors in the pig genome assembly.

Balanced chromosomal aberrations have been shown to affect fertility in most species studied, often leading to hypoprolificacy (reduced litter size) in domestic animals such as pigs. With an increasing emphasis in modern food production on the use of a small population of high quality males for artificial insemination, the potential economic and environmental costs of hypoprolific boars, bulls, rams etc. are considerable.

Novel tools for characterising inter and intra chromosomal rearrangements in avian microchromosomes.

Avian genome organisation is characterised, in part, by a set of microchromosomes that are unusually small in size and unusually large in number. Although containing about a quarter of the genome, they contain around half the genes and three quarters of the total chromosome number. Nonetheless, they continue to belie analysis by cytogenetic means.